Bermuda - Touring Hamilton Parish

From Flatts Village, turn right on Wilkerson Avenue and follow the road for a short distance to Crystal Cave and Fantasy Cave, the first
of two cave systems along the Harrington Sound Road. Crystal Cave was discovered in 1905 by two boys playing cricket. Apparently, their ball disappeared down a hole and they went in after it. They found themselves in a vast under- ground cavern more than 120 feet deep, surrounded by rock formations of fantastic shapes and sizes and an underground lake.

Today, the entrance to the two caves the boys found is gone, replaced by a sloping path to a wooden bridge across the lake. If you’ve never been underground, you should try it here. The
stalactites and stalagmites are accentuated by hidden lighting that glows among the rocks and shimmers across the still waters of the lake. 441-293-0640.

Before you leave the area, you might enjoy a visit to the Glass
Blowing Studio. You’ll find it at 16 Blue Hole Hill; 441- 293-2234. If you’ve never seen glass blowing done before, you’re in for a treat. I’m not about to try to describe the process here; you have to see for yourself. Suffice it to say that it’s one of the world’s oldest arts, dating back more than 2,000 years. Today, it’s become a fine art, and the pieces made at the studio are among the best you’re ever likely to see. The products are pure Bermudian: bowls, vases, plates and ornaments, all produced in the vibrant colors of the islands. Tour the studio, see how it’s done, then take a piece home with you. The studio is open from 9 am until 5 pm, Monday through Saturday, and from 10 am until 5 pm on Sundays, January through August. September through December, it’s open from 10 am until 4 pm. Prices range from about $12 for a small glass ornament to more than $100 for larger, more exotic pieces. Admission is free.

Go south from Crystal Caves along Harrington Sound Road for a short distance to Tom Moore’s Tavern, Stop 24. It’s not far and is an easy walk. The old tavern has its roots set firmly in Bermuda’s history.
It was built by Thomas Trott in 1652. Trott called his new home Walsingham, after Robert Walsingham, a sailor on the Sea Venture,
and for whom the nearby bay on Castle Harbour is named. Later it became the haunt of Irish poet, Tom Moore, who arrived on Bermuda
in 1804. At that time the house was still owned by the descendants
of Thomas Trott. Moore befriended them and paid frequent visits to
the estate. In fact, he did much of his writing there. Today, the house is a popular restaurant, still surrounded by woods and gardens as it was when first built. It has lost little of its charm over the 350 years. The restaurant is open only for dinner. You’ll have to make a reservation, 441-293- 8020, www.tommoores.com, and take either a taxi or a number 3 bus from Hamilton.

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